Flowers Foods: hosts analysts´ meeting at NC bakery

Thomasville / GA. (ff) At an event hosted for financial analysts, executives of Flowers Foods Inc. outlined the company´s growth strategies and reiterated previous guidance for fiscal 2007 of 2,02 billion USD to 2,04 billion USD in sales, an increase of seven to eight percent over 2006; net income from continuing operations of 84,8 million USD to 93,8 million USD; and earnings per share from continuing operations of 0,92 USD to 1,02 USD, an increase of 13,6 to 25,9 percent over 2006 results.

«Our company is achieving solid sales and earnings growth», George E. Deese, chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and president, told those attending the event. «We continue to offer bakery products that meet consumers´ needs, to execute well in the marketplace, and to improve efficiencies throughout our company. In the face of higher input costs for ingredients and other items, our team focuses on taking costs out of our business before increasing our prices to retail and foodservice customers. I am always impressed by the determination of our team in the face of challenges, such as the current high cost of wheat flour and other ingredients. I have confidence in this team´s ability to continue growing our business, delivering good results, and building value for our shareholders over the long term».

The analysts´ event was held at Flowers´ newest bakery in Newton, North Carolina, which adds needed production capacity to support the company´s strong sales growth in its established markets and expansion direct-store-delivery territories.

About: Headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, Flowers Foods is one of the United States´ leading producers and marketers of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers. Flowers operates 36 bakeries that produce a wide range of bakery products marketed throughout the Southeastern, Southwestern, and mid-Atlantic states via an extensive direct-store-delivery network and nationwide through other delivery systems.